(Posted 10/11/2002)
San Diego *, CA -
A proposal that would allow commuters to ride skateboards to work on
business district sidewalks was put on hold yesterday for further
review by a San Diego City Council committee.
Councilman George Stevens said he feared that pedestrians would be
run down by skateboarders sharing the sidewalks.
"This is not going to work, it's just not going to work. Get serious,"
Stevens said.
Currently, skateboards and skates are prohibited on sidewalks in
business districts. Skateboarding commuters complained that they
were given traffic tickets when they rode in the street.
The proposed rules would allow skateboards and skaters over the age
of 18 to use the sidewalks downtown and in other business areas.
Stevens said the only safe way to allow skateboard commuting would
be for the city to provide special skateboard lanes in the street similar
to bike lanes.
The proposed rules also would apply to a new type of motorized
scooter ... known formally as "electric
personal assistive mobility devices" .. (some of which) ... can go up to 17 miles per hour,
transportation officials said. The officials feared that the transporters
could pose a hazard to people on foot sharing space on narrow
sidewalks.
The proposed rules would allow transporter use in business districts
only on sidewalks that were at least 12 feet wide. The restriction would
not apply outside of business districts.
The council Land Use and Housing Committee instructed
transportation officials to return in 60 days with a revised proposal
governing the use of skateboards, in-line skates, scooters and Segway
devices in business districts and elsewhere in the city.
This article is by Ray Huard, Union-Tribune Staff writer, and was originally entitled "Skateboarding commuters? Committee
says let's wait". It was found at
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/ 20021010-9999_6m10skate.html Search this site for more about San Diego Considers Skateboard Commuter Lanes * | 
